Hi
We are wanting to buy a van. We would like to start off slowly and do 2 and 3 week trips, then slowly build up to the big one.
We have been looking at vans but they are all very expensive.
There are some on Internet with no shower and toilet which look ok.
Do we really need a shower and toilet to travel or are they just added luxuries that don't really get used.
I know that there are some areas of Australia where you can't take the van and have to tent it.
Sorry
The reason for asking is we have the opportunity to buy a 2009 scenic vega which has never been used for around $20k
Thanks
Vic
-- Edited by Ug-Vic on Monday 21st of January 2013 11:40:22 AM
We have had a caravan for 5 years which has not got a shower and toilet , but have a pota potti under the bed , In all that time have never wished we had a shower and toilet , We have found that we have great cross flow of air no matter were we have parked has we have windows on all sides , Once you install a shower and toilet you block the breeze from that direction , Also I find the shower area to be to small, hire a motor home in new zealand for 28 days which had shower and toilet but never use the shower and only used toilet at night for number ones
In our Avan we do a lot of N.P. campsites and Bush camping (free camp). Carry a Porta potty and shower tent as well but cant remember when we used it last.
Lot of free camps have a Loo or we Dig a hole if it is necessary. Athough havent had to do that very often either.
We will have a Flannel Washdown using a large bowl with warm water in it if away from regular showering facilities for extended periods.
If you are going to use Caravan Parks most all the time ! I would not bother with a shower or toilet built in.
Depends on your comfort, and what you want. Hire something without a shower for a week and take off to check out what your comfortable with
Spent about a total of 9 years in our van - over the space of 13 years. Carried a porta potti - never used it.
Away from showers, you can get pretty clean with some water in a bucket and a face washer. However, we did carry one of those black solar shower water bags, which the driver occasionally used when we were camped in the bush. I preferred the bucket!
Built in shower and toilet use means you use more water - have to carry more - heavier.
We do have a shower/toilet in the new bus, but that is more for resale value. Haven't used them, so far.
Like most, done the hard yards. Shower & toilet (& washing Machine)...............wouldn't be without an ensuite. Freezing cold, peeing rain, wind horizontal......shower, shave, and about 12 feet to the bed! Bloody convenient and civilised. Admittedly, we are on the road permanently, and as we have sold everything, this is home. If you get a good bargain and you decide that you want a shower/toilet, you can always upgrade.
Have to Agree!! We are full time also and Love our own shower and toilet!!... They dont use to much water if u are wise.. Didnt like the idear of using showers were others might have tiniea or sometime else!!... Cheers Harry and Ange!!
As this is our first van and we aren't going to be full time, we have decided to buy what we can afford and start off slowly. A few weeks and then build up to a couple months. We have to stick to what we can afford or else save for longer which of course means longer before we can start to get out there and I DON'T WANT TO WAIT!!!!
No toilet and shower for now. Thongs are good for showering in strange showers. Maybe in a few years we will be in a better position and then upgrade. But at least e will be able to start.
Vic that the way to go.. we had a camper trailer for 8 years and carried a porta poty , shower tent and colman hot water system.. all used rarely and traveled upto 5 months at a time. reciently upgraded to a motor home with the works.. great to have, take's up a lot of real estate and 350L of wter lasts only as long as 100 used to...But real nice to have. the life is out there not in the bathroom.. bathroom is nice to have but by no means an essential.
Ug-Vic I'm glad you've made your decision to go with what you can afford. We don't have a flash caravan (not that we don't dream sometimes) and we have enjoyed travel all over this country. The portapottie has been added in recent years but hubby still prefers to use a bucket overnight and empty it in the morning. We have 3 buckets - colour coded -so they don't get used for anything else. One for toilet (no 1's only) ,one for grey water, and one for fresh water. Enjoy what you can afford. You find a lot of others out there doing the same.
Excited much!!!!! So we have decided on a van. Just have to wait to hear from bank that they will top up the mortgage. Then we have to get Anderson plug and elec brakes on the pathy. I think it's a good buy...... But who really knows hey.
Another question that hubby has asked me to ask is about level riders. I have heard they are not really needed and a pain as you need to take them off and on all the time.
Can you wise and wonderful people please enlighten us further
Please cross all your bits that the bank says yes!!!
Level riders really depend on what your are towing relative to your tow vehicle. You dont want your car drooping down at the back and the front wheels lifting off the ground whilst towing. They may be a pain sometimes but far safer to have if needed. My camper behind a Hilux had no need but a big van behind a smaller tow vehicle would not be to safe to drive etc.
To hard for me to judge as 18ft vans can vary dramatically in weight and towball weight. I am sure that there are others with a similar setup that can advise. cheers
I understand the difficulty in trying to decide. Should we have a shower and toilet or not. My only comment is that once you have one, for most, it is highly unlikely you would ever do without it again.
-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Thursday 11th of April 2013 06:46:05 AM
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Just had a lovely shower in our van, combo unit, usually use amenities at the park we are currently residing in but have a bad dose of the flu and is too cold to use them ATM so I am really pleased I have the choice, also put the fan heater on to warm up the area when I get out and don't feel like I will make my flu worse so I have to vote in the affirmative.
-- Edited by pauline on Thursday 11th of April 2013 08:08:32 PM
The only problem you may have when you update is the re sale value of your van dropping in price ,as most people today do want shower/ toilet even if they do not intend to use them much.With a toilet and shower on board you can at least get away with all the HOO HA going on about leave no trace and the dreaded sighn in some out of the way reading MUST BE SELF CONTAINED...Some toilet and showers that are built into vans are designed not to swing a cat in let alone use.But in other builds they are ok.We have our shower/ toilet built at the rear with a door ,so it becomes a seperate room.Our bedroom is situated at the tow end of van,as i did not want them in the same section.Also have two small windows in bathroom and two hitches with fans in the bathroom area for plenty of ventilation.Are you wanting to buy a new van or a second hand van,as there is a lot of second hand vans out there in as good as order as new ones.and the best thing about buying a good second hand van is most of the gremlins have been ironed out from the other person.
Re the level rides - I reckon you should fit them as your van will be larger than ours in the avatar. We don't 'really' need them due to the car weighing double that of the van, but they do reduce the tiny amount of pitching we experienced plus as the hold the tow hitch hard on the towball they make it all quieter. We just bought a 4 bar set of shepherds crooks - only use 2 of them - got them for $60 at the Tender Center complete with 2 jacks and some other stuff.....that's about the normal price for this type - purists don't like this type and prefer to spend much much more on more sophisticated one but they all do the same job. Good Luck.
I don't have one but I say yes, quite apart from resale value. Your can still use a bucket but you have somewhere to use it, where it doesn't matter if you splash it or up end it to remove the soap and somewhere private to watch the bits and pieces without the trauta of the popup ensuite tent. My opinion only.
